Origins |
Fort Myers Beach was greatly affected by 8 Santini brothers who came from Italy. ( The Calusa(Caloosa) natives were long gone by then.) Most active in the area among the brothers were Cyril and Leonard Santini. They had a large impact upon the development of Fort Myers Beach. Leonard made his money potato farming just northeast of the beach. He took approximately $43,000 and bought a large piece of Estero Island. Santini Plaza is named to honor this family and the role they played in the area. Blanche Santini Lee (first white girl born in Fort Myers Beach 1929) and her husband Mo lived in the house at the end of the Cove's parking lot. Blanche and Mo sold the development rights to Mantanzas Developers, Inc. who built Sportsman's Cove Yacht & Racquet Club.
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Area History |
For more detailed information about the development of Fort Myers Beach
http://www.esteroislandhistoricsociety.org/3.html https://www.facebook.com/Southwest-Florida-Pioneers-Historical-Society-314776828544729/ http://nimue.cyberstreet.com/fmbeach/history/short_history.htm FORT MYERS HISTORIAL DOCUMENT For history buffs this 40 page document traces the development of Lee County from 1881-1930. http://focus.nps.gov/nrhp/GetAsset?assetID=38d3c855-e9a0-41b8-9291-4cbf4378a948 |